How to bet the 2026 Astra Stakes

A compact field will trek 1 1/2 miles over the Santa Anita turf course in Monday’s $100,000 Astra S. The Jonathan Thomas-conditioned #2 Mrs. Astor (4-5) is the clear one to beat and impossible to go against in this spot in my opinion, so I will try to find value in the exotics. 

Astra Wagers

• $20 exacta 2 with 4 ($20)
• $5 trifecta 2 with 4 with all ($20)

The Augustin homebred is among the top turf-staying distaffers in California right now and was last seen grinding out a game victory in the Red Carpet S. (G3) at Del Mar. By Lookin At Lucky, the six-year-old has won five of her last seven races in total, she sports a 5-3-1-0 mark on the course, and she was also a five-length stakes heroine in her latest attempt at 12 furlongs, as well. She possesses a measure of tactical speed that will be helpful in a race void of pace, and I expect regular pilot Umberto Rispoli to have her close to the front for the duration of the affair. 

Former claimer #4 Thebestisyettobe (4-1) looks like the main danger to the favorite for conditioner Phil D’Amato. The Irish-bred has displayed nice improvement since having the blinkers removed in 2025, with three wins in six tries since the equipment change. By Elzaam, the mare has run arguably her three best career races at distances of 1 1/4 miles or longer, and the six-year-old is still relatively lightly raced with room to get better going forward. The dark bay will take a pretty big class rise up from the first-level allowance ranks, but she lands in a modest field, and her form going long on the lawn is very good. She is a two-time winner on the oval, and the mare will be moving best of all in the latter stages of the race in hopes of upsetting the field with Kaz Kimura in the irons. 

I can’t find much separation with the other four contenders in the cast ,so I will focus solely on my top duo.